jumping technique?

[embonaught]

If a horse rushes at fences with its head stuck in the clouds, snorting at every breath, in a white sweat, fighting with the rider, then slams its back legs down together pretty much every time it jumps (often straight up then down, crashing through small fence), what would you do?

(It's not mine, just having a debate about someone elses)

 

[stencilface]

Take it right back to basics and reschool the horse. Horse sounds like it is panicking and wants to get over the fence as fast as possibile, to run away from whatever pain/fear it is experiencing.

I would also get back/teeth/saddle etc checked.

 

[Baileyhoss]

sounds like someone I know though. Right back to basics. schooling, get the canter right then introduce poles on the ground in about 6 months time....and lessons for the rider.

 

[Bossanova]

It is almost certainly a mouth issue so I'd sit a decent rider on who has the confidence to allow with the hands and hope to re-gain the horse's trust through it repeating easy fences with total freedom.
Then ensure its normal rider always totally frees the hand through all phases of the jump.

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Get a Chiro, dentist and saddle fitter first, go back to basics with pole work and grids and then if still no change I would change rider to see if it is a jockey thing. Failing that - take up dressage!

 

[embonaught]

...or keep putting the fences up, saying 'it's because they're too small for it'

and take it eventing anyway

 

[Baileyhoss]

oh yeh, totally forgot. that would work as well - and use heavy wooden poles so it'll learn to pick it's feet up.

 

[embonaught]

You obviously know the same people I do!

 

[kizzywiz]

Or failing the heavy wooden poles, get a big strong male rider to "teach it a lesson"

 

[kickandshout]

poor horse !!!

 

[pendam]

Oh poor horse sounds like needs a kinder understanding person on board poor thing would certainly go back to basics and probably even give it a couple months holiday and get chiro etc in and checked. x